Fence-post



(No Model.)

D. & 3. PORT & 0. v. BAIRD. PENGE POST.

No. 505,672. Patented Sept. 26,- 1893.

L, WITNESSES k? 1 p l 0m I 'EJgOR s W- M Attorney UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

DAVID PORT, SAMUEL PORT, AND CLEMENT V. BAIRD, OF NEAR DUBLIN, INDIANA.

FENCE-POST.

SPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 505,672, dated September 26,1893.

Application filed March 11, 1893- Serial No. 465,515. (No modeL) T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, DAVID PORT, SAMUEL Pour, and CLEMENT VALLANDINGHAM BAIRD, citizens of the United States, residing near Dublin, in the county of Wayne and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective view showing the post used in connection with gate and fence and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the post.

This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in fence posts, and it consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, all as hereinafter described and pointed out in the claim.

The object of the invention is to provide a surface-supported post of simple and ineX-.

pensive construction, and one which may be used with slight modifications either as a gate post, or as an ordinary fence post.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates the post proper, which at its lower portion is firmly bolted, or otherwise rigidly secured to a transverse base piece B. Said post is also connected to the base by means of the oblique lateral braces a, a, which are preferably of wire, as shown, although wooden or metal bars may be employed. WVhen the post is intended to be set upon a side hill, or upon sideling ground, the base piece is set at a greater or less angle with the post to adjust it to the degree of inclination of the ground, and the braces a, a, are of different lengths, so that the post will be in perfectly perpendicular position.

Fig. 1 shows the post when used as a gate post, the letter C designating a gate, and D the adjoining section of fence. When so used, we employ a sill piece E, which at its forward end is loosely connected to the post A by means of a horizontal bolt 1). A brace F preferably of wire, as shown, connects the rear portion of the sill with the upper portion of the post. The sill E extends alongside or underneath the fence section D, and is held atits rear portion by being extended under the fence section so that the weight of the fence assists/in balancing the gate, which is swung from the post- A in the ordinary manner. The base B and sill E are usually sup ported upon suitable blocks 0, and if the gate hangs too low, these may be removed, and larger ones substituted. It will be observed that the transverse base B serves as a fulcrum to the sill piece E under the weight of the fence. It will be observed that as the post is pivotally connected tothe sill E, by tightening the brace F, the forward end of the gate may be raised when necessary; also that by bearing down upon the brace, the forward end of the gate may be raised temporarily, to admit small animals thereunder, or to clear the gate of weeds, snow, or other obstruction. The upper fence rails of the section D should be left short enough to permit this movement of the post.

In Fig. 2 we have shown the post as used for an ordinary fence post, and when used for this purpose, the sill E and brace Fare omitted, the remaining parts being the same as when used as a gate post.

The advantages of this post over the ordinary post which is set in the ground, are as follows: First, it is not necessary to dig a post hole, which is a matter of considerable labor, especially when the ground is dry, frozen, or stony; second, it is more durable, beingless liable 'to decay, and a cheaper grade of lumber may be employed in its construction; third, it will retain its perpendicular position, and keep the gate from dragging upon the ground, and fourth, its height may be readily adjusted.

We are aware of the patent to Sparks, No. 347,658, of August 17 1886, wherein are shown longitudinal bars to which the gate post is pivoted, and we do not claim such construction broadly. The present construction differs from that of the said patent, in that the sill piece E is not made stationary, in that it is extended underneath the fence section, and with the base B as a fulcrum, sustains the weight of said section, and thereby has a counterbalancing action on the gate, and in that the brace is connected directly to said sill piece instead of to a pivoted lifting lever.

Having described this invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patout, is-

The herein described surface supported fence post, comprising a post proper, A, a transverse base B, to which said post is rigidly secured at its lower portion, oblique lateral braces a, a, connecting said post and brace, a longitudinal sill piece E to which the lower portion of said post is pivoted, said sill piece extending back over said base and resting thereon, and underneath the lower cross pieces of the fence section, said base B forming a fulcrum for said sill piece and a brace Witnesses: v

THOMAS KENNER, EUDARAZ DUBoIs. 

